“Volcanoes” explained in 4 pictures

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Young children understand that volcanoes are mountains formed by hot forces inside the Earth, and that eruptions and lava can change landforms

A volcano is one kind of mountain on Earth.
Some volcanoes have a hollow at the top.
Hot things from inside the Earth may come out.

💬 What kind of mountain is a volcano?

A volcano is one kind of mountain on Earth. Some volcanoes have a hollow at the top. Hot things from inside the Earth may come out.

🤔 What shape does the top of the volcano look like?

There are very hot places inside the Earth.
There is gooey melted rock there.
It is called magma.

💬 There is magma inside the Earth

There are very hot places inside the Earth. There is gooey melted rock there. It is called magma.

Magma may come out of a volcano.
Magma that comes outside is called lava.
Lava is very hot, so we do not go near it.

💬 When a volcano erupts, lava comes out

Magma may come out of a volcano. Magma that comes outside is called lava. Lava is very hot, so we do not go near it.

🤔 What was the name of the red thing coming out of the volcano?

When lava cools down, it becomes hard rock.
New ground can also form around a volcano.
Volcanoes change the shape of the Earth little by little.

💬 Volcanoes change the shape of the Earth

When lava cools down, it becomes hard rock. New ground can also form around a volcano. Volcanoes change the shape of the Earth little by little.